A diminished prospect of sharp tapering by the U.S. Federal Reserve boosted Asian markets Monday with news that former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers will not seek to lead the Fed. Japan's Nikkei 225 added 0.12% to 14,404.67, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 1.47% to 23,252.41, South Korea's Kospi gained 0.96% to 2,013.37 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.54% at 5,248.

Taiwan has been added to Standard Chartered Bank's Renminbi Globalization Index, joining the ranks of Hong Kong, Singapore and London due to the rapid growth of Taiwan's yuan market. "This is well-deserved recognition for Taiwan’s success in growing its offshore yuan business and for its contribution to the expansion of the overall yuan market pie," said Tony Phoo, the bank's Taipei-based economist.

China's consumer prices were up 2.6% last month compared with August 2012, while producer prices eased 1.6%. The tame inflation added to evidence that China's recent economic downturn is over and gives the central bank scope to intervene if expected tapering by the U.S. Federal Reserve leads to difficulties.

Markets were little changed in Europe on Monday, but U.S. exchanges posted gains as the government suggested the possibility of a diplomatic solution in Syria. The Stoxx Europe 600 ended 0.08% lower at 305.84, and the S&P 500 added 1% to 1,671.71. Here is a continuously updated list of global stock indexes.